12/17/2024

Read: Hebrews 12:14 - “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”

Reflect: We’ve studied briefly in these devotionals on the different kinds of peace that are delivered to us. But this can give the impression that peace is something you only sit back and receive. Yes, God has given us peace with Himself through Jesus, and peace of heart that we have access to, but peace with the people around us is more complicated. Peace must be pursued, not merely received. Not everyone has received the peace of Jesus. To pursue peace with others takes work, sacrifice, humility, love, and boldness. And the goal is not only peace with those we care for, but peace with all. Including your “enemies”, the ones who seem to make peace unattainable. But God demonstrated His love in that He made peace with us who, at the time, were still His enemies. If the Lord Jesus lived this way, how can we, His servants, expect any difference for ourselves? And lest we fall into despair when peace cannot be achieved with another person, bring to mind Romans 12:18: “as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” If you have done all you can to make peace, and it still avails nothing, give the situation to the Lord and rest in His sovereignty. We cannot allow our pursuit of peace to rob us of our peace in the process.

Respond: Think on the relationships in your life: are there any in which peace has been broken? Have you done all you can to pursue peace with those people? Pray the Lord would enable you to pursue peace with them. And then with discernment and faith, seek them out. Remember and thank the Lord that He pursued peace with you, even when you were far from Him.